AI Article Synopsis
- Mucosal head and neck cancers, particularly on the anterior tongue, mainly affect older males due to factors like smoking and alcohol; however, about 5% of cases occur in young adults, whose prognosis appears to be worse.
- A study involving 164 patients treated for anterior tongue squamous cell carcinoma found that while younger patients had a higher recurrence rate (45.5% vs 32.4%), their overall and relapse-free survival rates were not significantly different from older patients.
- The findings suggest that young adults with anterior tongue cancer do not have worse outcomes compared to older patients, indicating that a different treatment strategy for younger patients is not currently justified.
Article Abstract
Background: Mucosal head and neck cancers usually occur in older males after years of smoking and alcohol abuse. Despite this, approximately 5% of cases occur in young adults. The aetiology remains unclear and the anterior tongue is a prevalent site. Prognosis has been reported as worse in young patients and some have proposed a more aggressive treatment approach.
Methods: Patients diagnosed with previously untreated anterior tongue squamous cell carcinoma and treated with curative intent were identified. Retrospective and prospective data were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were undertaken using Cox regression analysis. The outcome of patients treated with anterior tongue cancer using a cut-off age of 40 years was compared.
Results: Between 1980 and 2000, 106 males and 58 females with anterior tongue squamous cell carcinoma were treated at Westmead Hospital. Median follow up was 47 months (6-210 months). Twenty-two patients (13.4%) were aged
Conclusions: In keeping with recently published evidence, young age at diagnosis with anterior tongue cancer did not portend worse outcome. There is therefore currently no strong evidence to support a different treatment approach in young patients.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1445-2197.2003.02818.x | DOI Listing |
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